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Creative Team – Eve L. Ewing(writer). Carmen Carnero(artist). Nolan Woodard(color artist). VC’s Travis Lanham(letterer). Carmen Carnero & Nolan Woodard(cover artists). David Baldeón & Jesus Aburtov, Miguel Mercado, Terry & Rachel Dodson(variant cover artists).
Published by Marvel Entertainment
Catch up with Exceptional X-Men #1!
*spoilers ahead!*
A normal life for an X-Man?
Kate Pryde is determined to have a normal life instead of the highly exciting life of a mutant hero, but that’s easier said than done. She takes all the correct steps to do so, like having a normal job, or dating, but of course, when the mutant life calls, you can’t say no. Kate is excited to have a normal date with a normal human named Nina. Nina is a human that’s highly involved with her local theater and is a server at a fancy restaurant, about as normal as it gets.
The New Mutants
For their first date, Nina asked Kate to accompany her to her little cousin’s soccer game, which Kate finds to be wholesome. While getting to know each other as you do on first dates, a mutant emergency reveals itself. A quiet yet colorful mutant named Alex is being bullied by some human high schoolers while he’s just trying to support his friend at her soccer game. Alex, who seems to be able to control emotions, is somewhat able to handle the situation, before another mutant gets involved.
One of the soccer players, Thao, who’s an angry, young mutant looking to stick up for fellow mutants, charges into the situation guns ablaze. By guns, I mean her mutant powers, which look a lot like Kate’s. The situation escalates drastically when Kate has to get involved. Kate just wanted to enjoy her first date with Nina, but the game was canceled because of the fight. Kate talks to both of the young mutants but steers clear of trying to be anyone’s mentor. That exactly what she’s working to get away from, especially since she already has Trista blowing up her phone looking for any kind of mutant help she can get.
All of this is happening while Kate is being watched by Emma Frost, who now has the new mutants in her line of vision. Now with these new mutants attached to Kate’s hip and Emma on the horizon, there’s no way of Kate’s dream of having a normal life ever coming true.
The Art
The artwork of Exceptional X-Men #2 perfectly illustrate the high emotions of the characters whether it be Thao’s anger, or Alex’s shyness. The details in are very well done and give the story a lot more depth. Something I really appreciate is the flashback to when Kate first met Storm all the way in the beginning before Kate was apart of the X-Men. The artists of the comic did a fantastic job throughout Exceptional X-Men #2.
The Writing
I found Exceptional X-Men #2 to be a pretty fun read that added great new characters to the story. Alex and Thao seem to have a lot of depth in their characters and I look forward to learning more about them. It’s interesting to see Kate want to have this normal and relatable life, while being one of the strongest mutants. Of course, we know that that just isn’t feasible for Kate, but it’s nice to see her try. I think the writing perfectly illustrates just how badly she wants a normal life and how frustrated she is that she keeps getting pulled back into mutant problems.
8.6 / 10
This review was written by Megan from Vigilante Vibes: A Marvel Podcast! If you liked my review, be sure to check out my other reviews! Let me know what you think of Exceptional X-Men #2, or tell me what comics you’d recommend me trying out! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!
